Chapter 65 Part 3: Upheaval, Crisis

The Empress’s intentions were simple.

To detain Caron for a long time.

Even mere suspicion would be damaging.

Especially if it was intertwined with the throne.

Rumors spread in the capital.

About magical powers that had disappeared long ago.

But the Second Prince was said to be immortal.

Even if he was wounded, he would heal immediately.

He had used that power to pacify Elchen.

Public opinion in the capital was already unfavorable towards the Second Prince.

On top of that, those who spread rumors had the backing of the Empress.

It was a perfectly natural progression.

“So that’s how it is. It seemed strange.”

The achievements Caron had made. His struggles on the battlefield.

Public opinion was formed that disparaged all of that.

Caron was detained in the palace.

His subordinates were also detained in a detached palace.

Fortunately, the Empress knew where to draw the line.

‘It’s still only a suspicion.’

She knew the backlash if the suspicion turned out to be false.

Caron was detained in the palace.

In the palace where he had once resided.

But it was only a matter of time.

“If you continue to be uncooperative…”

The official who was interrogating him trailed off.

“We also want to maintain decorum towards Your Highness.”

“What do you mean?”

“If you do not admit to it by the end of the mourning period, we will have no choice but to prove it in front of everyone.”

A week had passed since the interment.

There was a mourning period for everyone.

At least during the mourning period, Caron would be treated as a prince.

“As Your Highness is surely aware, entry and exit from the capital are prohibited during the mourning period.”

So the nobles who had already entered the capital, at least those influential enough to participate in the Emperor’s funeral.

They would be in the capital until then, and therefore, it would be revealed to everyone.

That was the Empress’s order.

[If he doesn’t admit it, make him admit it.]

The most surefire way to do that was to hold a public trial.

A public trial was harsh.

The accused had to refute the charges himself.

“Then, what method does Your Highness have to deny it?”

It was simple.

Caron just had to wound himself.

If the wound remained, the charges would be easily refuted.

‘But… if it heals.’

Then it would be an undeniable admission that all the charges were true.

The nature of that healing ability.

That it wasn’t the power of a demon, that it wasn’t black magic.

Caron had no way to prove it.

In reality, the unkindness of the Imperial Guards.

There was actually another reason for that.

“And once again, I will ask you clearly. Have you ever used black magic to harm His Majesty?”

“Ha-“

Caron was so dumbfounded that he couldn’t speak.

It was a truly flimsy accusation.

That he had used black magic to harm the Emperor.

So-called curses, dark magic.

Absurd accusations related to such things.

The Emperor had wasted away and died.

It was probably a natural death, but that wasn’t important.

What was really important to Caron was the fact that he was cornered.

Clearly, he should have been.

‘If my power is revealed to everyone..?’

That would give credence to the Empress’s flimsy accusation.

She must have already made those calculations.

The Empress already knew about his power.

‘She must have verified it many times…’

She must be filled with certainty.

There was no escape.

The examiner let out a deep sigh.

“Then. I will see you again tomorrow.”

Now the sixth day of interrogation was over.

Only one day remained.

Creak-

And as scheduled, Cardinal Emilio entered his room.

The Third Cardinal, Emilio.

He was a man with a gentle demeanor.

But the expression on his face as he entered the room was hardened.

He locked the door before letting out a small sigh.

He slowly walked over and sat across from Caron.

To the gentle-looking man, Caron asked.

“What is the situation outside?”

“It is still quiet for now.”

Quite a friendly voice.

The two were not in an interrogation relationship.

“Well, what a situation this is…”

Emilio let out a low chuckle.

How surprised he had been.

When he received the letter from his fellow Cardinal, Lazaro.

[I have found the subject of the oracle.]

Of course, the letter contained the details.

Emilio, who had read the letter many times.

It was full of surprising content.

The Archduchess, Rosa Anencia, was a Saint.

“Since none other than Lazaro himself confirmed it, there is surely no mistake.”

It matched the oracle exactly.

The reversed flow, the divided world.

The Saint’s story matched it.

There was plenty to suggest.

The Second Prince in front of him.

He was the one the Saint had asked to protect.

But at the place where Caron was being escorted.

Emilio didn’t immediately reveal the truth.

There was a reason.

On the first day Emilio met the Second Prince.

He told him everything.

“The reason we didn’t reveal it at that moment was. Because Lady Rosa wished it so.”

Surprisingly, the Second Prince seemed flustered.

Caron had considered the worst-case scenario.

The possibility that Cardinal Emilio had been bought by the Empress’s side.

When he told him that, Emilio burst into laughter.

“Well, well. That’s good. It was quite a good performance. Even I thought so.”

Despite his gentle appearance, he was a Cardinal who knew the calculations of politics.

“I have that much sense.”

Cardinal Emilio, who had been standing there at the time.

How terrifyingly stern his expression had been.

People had whispered about it.

“But all of that. It was Lady Rosa’s plan.”

What she had requested of the Church.

It was that after the Emperor’s death.

To announce the oracle and the appearance of the Saint.

But the fact that it was her was to be kept secret.

“She asked that it be made known that a Saint had appeared in the north, and that Your Highness had received that blessing.”

And she wanted Caron’s protection.

It seemed she had devised a method.

The timing of revealing the truth was quite specific.

“She asked that it be delayed until the end of the mourning period, unless it was a truly critical situation.”

That way, the effect could be maximized.

Caron admired Rosa’s insight.

Rosa already knew.

That the Empress and the First Prince.

They would use any means to detain Caron.

Emilio spoke.

“In fact, apart from everything else, there is the mourning period after the interment.”

At least for exactly one week.

He had to be in the capital no matter what.

They could always create new charges.

The Empress would have applied new charges using any method.

‘She would have tied me down like that and done something.’

Caron didn’t worry about other things.

But his subordinates who had come to the capital with him.

“I am worried about their safety.”

“So, if I may elaborate.”

Cardinal Emilio told him about the situation outside.

“It’s just a gentle persuasion at most. I heard they even promised titles.”

Their lord had used black magic.

Naturally, his subordinates were also being investigated as witnesses.

“But something is a bit unusual…?”

Cardinal Emilio had a subtle expression.

It had been raining for days.

The sky of Elchen was gloomily overcast.

“…It will be alright. Surely.”

Rosa murmured to herself.

Her small hand trembled slightly.

In that hand, she held a letter.

Caron had been detained in the palace.

She had just received that news.

But.

This was already expected.

Blind faith in the original story.

Rosa had abandoned that a long time ago.

‘Still…’

Use what can be used.

That was her new attitude towards facing reality.

Caron had entered enemy territory.

The funeral where everyone’s attention would be focused.

He had no choice but to attend.

So Rosa knew.

‘The Empress’s tactics are too obvious.’

Naturally, she knew about Caron’s power.

In the original story, the Empress had used it.

Fortunately, the countermeasure against such an Empress was the very existence of the Saint.

A Saint was a human who represented the will of God.

Their will was the will of God.

The one the Saint sought to protect was entitled to the protection of the Church.

But the letter Rosa sent to the Cardinal.

At the very bottom, there was a postscript.

[Please do not announce it until after the mourning period, unless it is a truly critical situation.]

‘The protection of the Church doesn’t guarantee safety.’

Pure Rosa’s prediction.

It was a decision made after much deliberation.

If it were that easy, she would have just revealed that she was the Saint.

But things weren’t that simple.

‘If the Empress and the First Prince do not simply accept it…’

Then.

She had to use this card in the most effective way possible.

Without giving the opponent any room to respond, and in the most undeniable way.

‘He can’t leave the capital anyway. At least during the mourning period.’

Rosa had found out about that fact by chance.

So she deliberately chose to reveal it after that.

She thought that would be better.

‘So Caron will be alright.’

Surely her predictions would come true.

In reality, she would soon announce that she was the Saint.

Rosa had a plan.

Knock-knock-

Then.

Someone knocked on the door.

“It’s Pavel, Your Grace.”

It was a completely unexpected visit.

“Come in, Pavel.”

And Rosa rose from her seat.

Surprisingly, Pavel was in armor.

“Before I leave the Archducal estate, I came to pay my respects.”

Rosa paused and then asked.

“Leave…? Sir Pavel?”

Pavel scratched his head.

“Ah, I must have spoken in a way that could cause misunderstanding.”

He began to explain Caron’s plan.

Finally, the day of destiny dawned.

The seventh day after the interment.

The mourning period ended at noon.

Buzz-buzz-

People were noisy for a different reason.

“Is it really the power of a demon?”

“No way. Such power only exists in legends.”

A large square.

A platform was set up.

The Empress, the First Prince. Nobles entered one after another.

A large crowd was also present.

Everyone’s gaze was directed to one place.

Caron stood there.

His usual composed self, with an unwavering attitude.

“That guy is being cocky until the end.”

The First Prince, Leon, was dumbfounded.

He snorted at the sight.

‘Let’s see if he can maintain that attitude in a little while.’

He was just finding it ridiculous.

Soon, five judges entered.

All of them were officials under the Imperial household.

So it was a done deal.

The Empress’s expression was also calm.

Soon, everyone fell silent.

“Then. Let us begin the public trial.”

Of course, just because it was a public trial didn’t mean the public participated.

Originally, even such trials were the exclusive domain of nobles.

So it was quite unusual to open it to the general public.

A black bird mask.

The judges were guaranteed anonymity.

One of the five slowly ascended the platform.

“The charges are serious. Primarily, the charge of using black magic. And the charge of using that black magic to harm His Majesty.”

The murmuring grew louder.

After taking a moment to breathe, the judge continued.

“As Her Majesty, the Empress, has strictly ordered. For this trial, the judges will, unfortunately, have to address His Highness as a commoner.”

This was clearly humiliation.

An act to openly disregard the Second Prince.

‘They really want to drag him down to the depths.’

Some nobles clicked their tongues.

It was because they felt a sense of pity.

And the questioning about the charges continued.

Each time, Caron denied the charges.

‘…It’s going as expected.’

Yes, so far.

A nervous expression from Marquis Gallia.

He had conveyed this information to the Second Prince beforehand.

There would definitely be a trial to push him into a corner.

He had to find a countermeasure.

But the flow was getting worse.

The repeated questioning and denial. It was the end of the back-and-forth.

“Then the defendant must now prove. That he is not tainted by corruption.”

A waiting Imperial Guard handed a dagger to Caron.

Caron quietly took the dagger.

He had something to believe in.

Indeed, or so it should have been.

A voice rang out across the square.

“Stop.”

Silence descended.